My name is Madelyn Kludt, and I grew up on a crop and hog operation near Menno, South Dakota, where my family currently resides. Growing up, I enjoyed learning about every aspect of running an operation, including why my family chose to plant certain crops during certain seasons, and the benefits of integrating a variety of methods and cropping systems. This interest led me to South Dakota State University where I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in agricultural science and minors in agriculture business, agriculture marketing, commodity risk management, and animal science. Post-graduation, I moved to the Parkston, SD, area to start my journey with the South Dakota Soil Health Coalition.
I have had the privilege to learn in a variety of atmospheres outside of South Dakota State University, including internships and job opportunities across many agricultural fields including commodity management, conservation, seed sales, and agronomy. I am thrilled to be able to start putting some of my education to work in a field that I believe is the pulse behind every agricultural practice – soil health.
Broadly, my goal is to help increase the percentage of acres in South Dakota working to integrate healthy soil practices. More specifically, my vision involves supporting producers across the state to increase living roots in the soil, decrease soil disturbance, and strengthen the microbiome of their soil overall.
I am beyond excited to help producers learn about and integrate crucial practices for preserving the thriving ecosystem beneath our feet!
